Today, Lung Cancer Alliance hailed the recent decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expedite the review of Xyotax, a cancer drug under development by Cell Therapeutics, Inc., as an exciting and hopeful development for the lung cancer community.

Xyotax is designed to treat certain women with first-line, advanced non- small cell lung cancer.

"For many months we have been carefully watching the progress of Xyotax in clinical trial," said Laurie Fenton Ambrose, President of Lung Cancer Alliance. "If successful, this first-ever, gender-based study could provide significant breakthroughs for women with advanced non-small cell lung cancer."

On April 11, 2007, the FDA reported it would expedite review of the drug because it has shown promising results in treating a life-threatening condition and demonstrates the potential to address an unmet medical need.

"Clearly, there is more testing to do before we can fully evaluate the efficacy of Xyotax for our stakeholders -- but the FDA decision puts us one step further on the path towards discovery," concluded Fenton.

Lung Cancer Alliance is the only national organization providing patient support and advocacy exclusively to those living with or at risk for lung cancer. For more information please visit lungcanceralliance.

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